Land Bank to purchase Lopez Spit

The San Juan County Land Bank has readied an agreement with Probe LLC to purchase 29 acres on Lopez Spit at the entrance to Fisherman Bay, including more than a mile of waterfront and a dock.

“We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Rita O’Boyle of Lopez and the other partners of the Prolee LLC, as well as realtors Kathy Keller and Wally Gudgell Jr. for their efforts to see the Lopez Spit become a community property,” Lopez Land Bank Commissioner Tom Cowan stated.

The Land Bank targeted the Prolec LLC property in order to protect its many important conservation features valued by locals and visitors alike. The scenic setting is viewed from numerous locations and travel ways, including Lopez Village, San Juan Channel and Fisherman Bay.

The public has enjoyed traditional access to the Spit thanks to Prolee LLC and previous owners. The Spit itself contains important ecological and cultural events.

The Land Bank Commission will be seeking community feedback as it develops a management plan to define future uses and management activities far the property. Participation from neighboring property owners and local community members will be a critical part of the Land Bank’s process.

The Land Bank will pay $3,250,000 for the Prolee property pending final approvals by the Land Bank Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. Public hearings are scheduled for July 19, for the Land Bank Commission and Aug. 6 for the Board of County Commissioners.

Closing for the purchase is scheduled to take place in two phases. Phase one will take place in September and phase two is scheduled for the last week of December or first week of January. An announcement of the final purchase will be made at that time.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.